Can Remote Teams Make You a Stronger Leader?

Can Remote Teams Make You a Stronger Leader?

What if the remote vs. in-office work debate was actually missing the point? It’s easy to think that in-office work will solve our performance, connection, and culture problems. But the truth is those existed long before work from home entered the picture. In this episode, Emily sits down with Allison Vendt [https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonvendt/], VP of People Operations and Head of Virtual First at Dropbox. Allison led the design of Dropbox’s Virtual First model, rethinking how work happens at scale. Together, Emily and Allison unpack what it really takes to design work that works for people, teams, and the bottom line. They explore why treating the employee experience like a product changes everything, how structure (not proximity) drives performance, and why most return-to-office mandates fail to address the real issue. And they offer practical strategies to rethink your ways of working, from redefining meetings and async work to using in-person time intentionally for trust, decision-making, and speed. Whether you’re leading a distributed team, navigating return-to-office pressure, or trying to rebuild engagement and trust, this conversation will help you move beyond the proximity debate and learn to lead your teams stronger than ever before. Timestamps: * [00:03:13] The Office Wasn’t Working Either – Emily and Allison challenge the assumption that pre-pandemic work was effective, unpacking why many organizations are trying to return to a system that never truly solved performance or connection. * [00:09:06] Designing Work Like A Product – Allison shares how Dropbox approached Virtual First like a product. From identifying first principles to treating the employee experience as something to build, test, and iterate with user input and data along the way. * [00:15:30] Structure Drives Performance, Not Proximity – The conversation turns to practical execution, from async-first communication to redefining meetings, showing how intentional structure enables focus, clarity, and better collaboration. * [00:37:24] Make In-Person Time Earn Its Value – Emily and Allison explore how leaders can get leadership buy-in and demonstrate the ROI of time spent together. Access the episode transcript. [https://www.arosegroup.com/post/let-s-talk-people-episode-39] Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-frieze-kemeny/] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/letstalkpeoplepodcast/] or explore her work through AROSE Group’s website [https://www.arosegroup.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=captivate&utm_campaign=interview&utm_content=uncovering]. If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let’s Talk, People in Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-people-with-emily-frieze-kemeny/id1713722861], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3uxBZJBn8xZMHJrdrxEyOU], or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It helps others discover the show. Thanks for listening to Let’s Talk, People!

Performance Isn't Enough

Strong performance feels like it should be enough. But many leaders reach a point where doing great work no longer drives advancement, and suddenly the rules feel unclear. Visibility, stakeholder perception, and delivery start to matter more than performance alone. In this episode, Emily Frieze-Kemeny sits down with May Busch [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maybusch/], former Morgan Stanley COO, career coach, and author of VISIBLE. After a 24-year leadership career in investment banking, May now works with executives and managers to help them navigate the often unspoken dynamics that shape career progression. Together, Emily and May explore what happens when performance stops being the differentiator and leadership becomes about influence and visibility. They unpack how to coach strong performers whose ideas aren’t getting noticed, how to give honest feedback about presence and perception, how leaders can help their teams understand the broader stakeholder landscape that impacts careers, and when advocating too hard for the wrong people becomes a credibility issue. Whether you're developing future leaders, managing high performers, or navigating your own next step, this conversation offers practical ways to coach beyond performance, helping people build visibility without sacrificing authenticity. Timestamps: * [00:06:59] When Performance Stops Being Enough - Emily and May explore the moment many leaders hit where strong work alone no longer drives advancement. They discuss the shift toward visibility, stakeholder awareness, and why leaders must help their teams understand the broader decision-making landscape. * [00:11:30] Coaching Delivery, Not Just Capability - May shares how talented contributors can be overlooked when their communication lacks clarity or conviction. Emily and May discuss coaching on presence, brevity, and helping strong performers translate expertise into influence. * [00:21:00] Giving Honest Feedback About the System - Emily and May unpack how to speak truth about perception, politics, and readiness without demotivating someone. They explore contracting upfront, tying feedback to aspirations, and holding space for emotional reactions. * [00:36:11] Advocating Without Losing Credibility - The conversation turns to stakeholder missteps, promotion decisions, and pacing frustrations. Emily and May discuss when to push for someone, when to step back, and how leaders balance support with honest guidance about timing. Access the episode transcript [https://www.arosegroup.com/post/let-s-talk-people-episode-38]. Join the Conversation: This year we’re taking audience questions! Send in your toughest people management and leadership challenges, and we’ll anonymize them and tackle them in an upcoming episode. Email Abigail on our Let’s Talk, People team with your situation as a written note or voice memo to abigail@arosegroup.com [abigail@arosegroup.com]. Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-frieze-kemeny/] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/letstalkpeoplepodcast/] or explore her work through AROSE Group’s website [https://www.arosegroup.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=captivate&utm_campaign=interview&utm_content=uncovering]. If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let’s Talk, People in Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-people-with-emily-frieze-kemeny/id1713722861], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3uxBZJBn8xZMHJrdrxEyOU], or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It helps others discover the show. Thanks for listening to Let’s Talk, People!

Your Old Playbook Won't Work Here

Stepping into a new leadership role should feel like progress. But for many leaders, the pressure to prove yourself, move fast, and make the right decisions quickly muddles how you show up when it matters most. In this episode of Let’s Talk, People, Emily sits down with Oneeka Botu [https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneekabotu/], Senior HR Leader for Retail Leadership & Team Development at Valentino, a globally recognized luxury brand with a retail footprint across North America and markets worldwide. With more than 20 years of experience across brands including Saks Fifth Avenue, Yves Saint Laurent, Bulgari, and La Perla, Oneeka brings deep expertise in helping leaders navigate transitions and accelerate impact. Together, Emily and Oneeka unpack what it really takes to step into a new leadership role successfully. They explore how to shift out of old patterns and stop relying on what worked before, how early pressure to prove yourself can actually slow progress, and why relationships are the foundation for influence that leads to meaningful execution. They also discuss the signals behind common leadership traps like micromanaging and over-explaining, and what it means to intentionally reset when leading former peers. Whether you’re stepping into a new role, navigating a promotion, or supporting leaders through transition, this conversation offers a new playbook to help you build trust faster, adapt with intention, and lead with greater clarity from day one. Timestamps: * [00:04:14] No Playbook Works the Same Twice – Emily and Oneeka challenge the idea that past success guarantees future results. They explore why every new role requires leaders to adapt to a different team, culture, and set of expectations, and how relying on what worked before can quietly limit impact. * [00:12:06] Relationships Before Results – Oneeka shares why new leaders must prioritize connection before execution. Together, she and Emily unpack how building trust and co-creating early direction creates the foundation for influence and sustainable performance. * [00:25:13] Redefining Relationships When You Become the Boss – Oneeka and Emily unpack the emotional complexity of managing former peers. They explore why avoiding the conversation creates more tension, and how clarity around expectations, feedback, and boundaries helps preserve trust while establishing leadership credibility. * [00:36:48] It’s Time To Build A New Playbook – Emily and Oneeka explore the internal pressure many leaders feel to deliver immediately, and how that pressure often leads to pushing too hard, over-explaining, or micromanaging. They reframe these behaviors as common traps leaders fall into and identify how to slow down and notice the signals so that you can shift your mindset and behaviors before it’s too late. Access the episode transcript [https://www.arosegroup.com/post/let-s-talk-people-episode-37]. Join the Conversation: This year we’re taking audience questions! Send in your toughest people management and leadership challenges, and we’ll anonymize them and tackle them in an upcoming episode. Email Abigail on our Let’s Talk, People team with your situation as a written note or voice memo to abigail@arosegroup.com [abigail@arosegroup.com]. Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-frieze-kemeny/] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/letstalkpeoplepodcast/] or explore her work through AROSE Group’s website [https://www.arosegroup.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=captivate&utm_campaign=interview&utm_content=uncovering]. If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let’s Talk, People in Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-people-with-emily-frieze-kemeny/id1713722861], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3uxBZJBn8xZMHJrdrxEyOU], or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It helps others discover the show. Thanks for listening to Let’s Talk, People!

Influence Isn’t About Winning

Influence is one of the most misunderstood skills in leadership. We often think it means pushing harder, building a stronger case, or winning the room. In reality, influence usually begins in a much quieter place… in the pause that helps you manage your own reaction. In this episode of Let’s Talk, People, Emily Frieze-Kemeny [www.linkedin.com/in/emily-frieze-kemeny] sits down with Courtney Michener Miller [https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneymichenermiller/], Head of Learning at AstraZeneca, a global biopharmaceutical organization with more than 94,000 employees worldwide. Courtney leads enterprise learning and development across sales, market access, and medical functions, bringing deep experience navigating influence within complex, global systems. Together, Emily and Courtney unpack what influence really requires: pausing before you push, separating identity from ideas and outcomes, and respecting the broader context your leaders may be carrying. They explore how to influence up without escalating unnecessarily, why “less is more” in high-stakes forums, and how to lead with both data and solutions instead of conviction alone. Whether you’re influencing up, sideways, or within your own team, this conversation will help you stay grounded in your sphere of agency, influence, and acceptance to lead with greater clarity, composure, and effectiveness. Timestamps: 1. [00:06:12] Pause Before You Push – Emily and Courtney unpack how many influence moments start in emotional reaction- frustration, defensiveness, or feeling excluded. They explore why effective influence begins with pausing, gaining perspective, and identifying what’s actually within your control before deciding how to respond. 2. [00:12:28] Influence Up with Data, Solutions, and Respect – Courtney emphasizes the importance of leading with both data and solution, not just conviction. Together, she and Emily discuss doing a quick risk assessment, respecting the broader pressures your boss may be carrying, and bringing forward thoughtful recommendations rather than complaints. 3. [00:14:49] The Power of the “Meeting Before the Meeting” – Emily introduces the concept of setting context with your boss before escalating an issue, aligning on tone, goals, and expectations. She and Courtney explore when to bring a subject matter expert into the room, how to prepare them, and how this pre-alignment strengthens influence rather than creating resistance. 4. [00:21:59] Influence Isn’t Winning, It’s Leading Anyway – Emily and Courtney reflect on the idea that influence doesn’t always mean getting your way. Sometimes leadership chooses a different path, and your job shifts. They explore what it means to control the controllables and put on your “consultant hat” to add value without over-identifying with the outcome. Access the episode transcript. [https://www.arosegroup.com/post/let-s-talk-people-episode-36] Join the Conversation: This year we’re taking audience questions! Send in your toughest people management and leadership challenges, and we’ll anonymize them and tackle them in an upcoming episode. Email Abigail on our Let’s Talk, People team with your situation as a written note or voice memo to abigail@arosegroup.com [abigail@arosegroup.com]. Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-frieze-kemeny/] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/letstalkpeoplepodcast/] or explore her work through AROSE Group’s website [https://www.arosegroup.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=captivate&utm_campaign=interview&utm_content=uncovering]. If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let’s Talk, People in Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-people-with-emily-frieze-kemeny/id1713722861], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3uxBZJBn8xZMHJrdrxEyOU], or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It helps others discover the show. Thanks for listening to Let’s Talk, People!

When Change Feels Like It’s Happening to You

Change is no longer an occasional disruption, it’s the constant backdrop of leadership today. And when change accelerates, leaders are often left holding the weight of uncertainty, pressure and unspoken anxiety across their teams. In this episode of Let’s Talk, People, Emily Frieze-Kemeny [www.linkedin.com/in/emily-frieze-kemeny] sits down with Kiabi Carson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiabicarson/], Head of Human Resources for North America at Turner & Townsend, a £1.4B global professional services company supporting large-scale construction and infrastructure programs across 60+ countries. Together, they explore why silence during uncertainty creates more fear, how to communicate honestly when you don’t have all the answers, and what it really means to hold space for your team without amplifying anxiety. Kiabi shares lessons from leading through large-scale mergers, organizational transformation, and unexpected role shifts, offering practical guidance on staying grounded, protecting business-as-usual, and helping teams focus on what they can control when everything feels unsettled. Whether you’re leading through a merger, restructuring, or rapid change with limited clarity, this episode offers grounded strategies to help you communicate with confidence, build trust through uncertainty, and lead with steadiness when your team needs it most. Timestamps: 1. [00:15:13] Leading Up in Times of Pressure – Emily and Kiabi explore how leaders can navigate decisions that are already made by bringing empathy, positivity, and impact-focused feedback (rather than complaints) when senior leaders are under intense pressure. 2. [00:21:01] Why Silence Creates Anxiety During Change – Emily and Kiabi unpack why going quiet when there’s no new information actually fuels fear and speculation, and how leaders can create a consistent communication rhythm that builds trust by sharing what’s known, what’s unknown and when you’ll share more. 3. [00:28:14] Protecting Business-as-Usual While Navigating Transformation – Emily and Kiabi discuss the importance of keeping business-as-usual and transformation work in separate lanes, making space for change conversations while still grounding teams in what they can execute today. 4. [00:30:53] Holding Space Without Carrying the Emotional Weight – The conversation dives into how leaders can acknowledge and normalize anxiety without amplifying it; by naming what’s unsettling, listening deeply, reflecting back what they’re hearing, and using personal support systems to process their own emotions so the team doesn’t have to. Access the episode transcript [https://www.arosegroup.com/post/let-s-talk-people-episode-35]. Join the Conversation: This year we’re taking audience questions! Send in your toughest people management and leadership challenges, and we’ll anonymize them and tackle them in an upcoming episode. Email Abigail on our Let’s Talk, People team with your situation as a written note or voice memo to abigail@arosegroup.com [abigail@arosegroup.com]. Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-frieze-kemeny/] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/letstalkpeoplepodcast/] or explore her work through AROSE Group’s website [https://www.arosegroup.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=captivate&utm_campaign=interview&utm_content=uncovering]. If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let’s Talk, People in Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-people-with-emily-frieze-kemeny/id1713722861], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3uxBZJBn8xZMHJrdrxEyOU], or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It helps others discover the show. Thanks for listening to Let’s Talk, People!